The Christmas spirit of generosity, peace and goodwill could not be needed more

The festive season, with its much-loved traditions, family gatherings and tidings of joy, provides a welcome ray of light even in the darkest times. In Hong Kong, Christmas celebrations will be tempered with great sadness this year as the city emerges from the shock and horror of the devastating Tai Po fire which engulfed seven housing blocks, leaving at least 161 dead. The tragedy struck on November 26, just as the seasonal festivities were getting under way. The city was plunged into mourning and rallied to help the thousands who lost their loved ones or homes. Events, from concerts to Christmas parties, were postponed, suspended, scaled back or cancelled. The Symphony of Lights laser show at the harbour was halted for two weeks and the Christmas Town illuminations in the heart of the city switched off. The showpiece fireworks display to see in the new year has been cancelled. There is a need for respect and remembrance. But the festive season can help the city with its recovery from the disaster. As victims of the fire seek to come to terms with the tragedy and begin rebuilding their lives, the Christmas spirit has been rekindled. The extensive community efforts to help those stricken by the blaze are in keeping with the deeper meaning of the festival. Christmas activities, although more muted than in the past, have gradually resumed. Some events have been reconfigured to raise funds for fire victims as well as other charitable causes. The lights were turned on at Christmas Town on December 9. An immersive light show features projections and LED animations on eight of the city’s landmarks. There is also an illuminated Starlight Boulevard. A four-day White Christmas Street Fair, organised by Swire Properties, opened on December 11 and included a moment’s silence to remember victims of the fire. The fair raised funds for Operation Santa Claus, the annual campaign run by public broadcaster RTHK and the Post. This year, it includes an emergency appeal to provide relief for those affected by the fire, alongside a drive for donations to support 13 local charities. Hong Kong has long been a popular destination at this time of year. The city has, since the pandemic, stepped up its festive activities, hoping to attract visitors and boost spending. The Hong Kong Tourism Board is promoting WinterFest, which includes a wide variety of events. It provides an eclectic mix of the traditional and the avant-garde, from arty to wacky and – as is customary at Christmas – tacky. There are snowmen, reindeer and “meet and greets” with Santa Claus. Activities this year also include Gingermass and a Merry Balloon Parade. Christmas Town features a 20-metre tree decorated with toys including spaceships, puppets and trains. The West Kowloon Cultural District offers a Christmas forest with “whimsical” tree houses. There is a carousel and booths selling festive food and gifts – even treats for pets. I enjoyed Christmas in Hong Kong when living in the city, appreciating the good weather, the colourful harbourside lights and the fact that, unlike in the UK, the shops stay open. It was fun trying to maintain traditions. One year, I bought a cooked turkey from a baker in Discovery Bay and hurried back to Mui Wo with it on the ferry. The bird was cold by the time we got it home, but it wouldn’t have felt like Christmas without it. Back in the UK, such traditions are easier to keep up. My Christmas tree was cut to order at a nearby estate. The turkey now comes from a local farm. The lights in local villages are magical. We are in for a cold spell and there is even an outside chance of a white Christmas. But not all preparations for the big day are running smoothly in Britain. Hospitals have been flooded with patients amid a surge in flu cases. It was not a good time for “resident doctors” to launch a five-day strike for better pay and more jobs. Vandals cut down a Christmas tree in Durham, planted in memory of those who lost their lives in the two world wars. In the spirit of the season, local residents bolted it back on and patched it up. They are raising funds for a replacement. Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has apparently withdrawn a Christmas card deemed “transphobic” from its shelves. It featured a green character in a Santa hat along with the words “I’m identifying as a Grinch”. A software design company, meanwhile, was accused of hijacking a Christmas fair, booking the market venue in Cambridge for its staff party, complete with a Ferris wheel and carol singers. Members of the public were turned away and children left in tears. Not everyone appreciates enthusiastic festive celebrations. A Londoner received a letter of complaint from a neighbour when he erected a 6-metre-high inflatable snowman and Father Christmas outside his home. This can be a season for silliness. But for all the jollity Christmas brings, it carries a serious and universal message. The Christian religious festival, celebrating the birth of Jesus, has been adopted and adapted around the world. It is enjoyed by people of other faiths and those who are not religious. This is a time to gather with friends and family. It is a season of giving. Christmas offers an opportunity not only to party, but to reflect and to think of those in need of support. In Hong Kong, the victims of the fire will be at the forefront of people’s minds. In Sydney, the community is grieving the loss of 15 lives in the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack, targeting an event marking the beginning of the Jewish festival Hanukkah. Wars continue to wage around the world, from Ukraine to Sudan. The Christmas tree is, thankfully, back in Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, after a two-year absence because of the conflict in Gaza. The truce is fragile and the future uncertain. There are 240 million people globally in need of emergency aid, according to the United Nations. But facing cuts in funding from governments, it will only be able to help 87 million next year, even if it achieves the scaled-back target of raising US$23 billion. The Christmas spirit of generosity, peace and goodwill could not be needed more as the year draws to an end. The festive good cheer is welcome and so is the hope it brings for the future.

The Christmas spirit of generosity, peace and goodwill could not be needed more

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From the Tai Po fire tragedy to the Bondi Beach terror attack, the festive season brings a welcome ray of light and a sense of hope for the future

From the Tai Po fire tragedy to the Bondi Beach terror attack, the festive season brings a welcome ray of light and a sense of hope for the future